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Each Monday morning, we will preview every college football DI FBS game of the upcoming week. All of our college football content, including our most recent power rankings and links to the pre-season preview are located here.

The inputs to the 10,000 simulations of these games are based on a rigorous analysis of each team that considers strength-of-schedule-adjusted team and player ratings and then makes modifications for injuries and depth at each position. To see other picks like our Upset and Locks of the Week, as well as our season-to-date performance, click here.

Game of the Week: #4 TCU 34 @ #16 BYU 28
With conference standings always in flux, just about every game of every season affects more than just the two teams playing. But rarely does a situation exist where the outcome of a program - from a different conference, nonetheless - decides the fate of another.

Boise State is a program that fits that mold right now. And almost all the Broncos' eyes will be on TCU, starting this weekend.

With only WAC teams on its schedule, the Boise State controls its destiny when it comes to finishing undefeated. According to our data based on simulations of the rest of the season, Boise State has a 71.3% chance of winning the rest of its games. When it comes to the Broncos' BCS hopes - whether that's the championship game or just making a BCS bowl game - the Horned Frogs could decide their fate.

Playing in the much more competitive Mountain West Conference, if TCU remains undefeated through the end of the regular season, it would likely jump Boise State to snag a BCS bid for the non-automatic-qualifying conferences.

Of course, if the Horned Frogs don't finish undefeated, the Broncos probably have nothing to worry about. TCU will face its biggest road block to an undefeated season this Saturday when it travels to Provo, Utah, to take on BYU.

The Horned Frogs fell behind 6-0 against Colorado State last week before their offense erupted for 44 unanswered points, squelching most doubts about the team one week after they hung on to beat Air Force in below-freezing temperatures. TCU, eighth in the first BCS standings, sits fourth in our power rankings. The Horned Frogs are balanced offensively led by veteran quarterback Andy Dalton. He is one of four TCU players with greater than 200 yards rushing and has also thrown for 1,223 yards with eight touchdowns and just three interceptions. On defense, it's all starts with All-American defensive end Jerry Hughes. TCU is one of just nine teams in the country allowing less than four yards per play and is tied for sixth in the country with 3.3 sacks per game.

BYU's BCS hopes were leveled when the Cougars were routed at home by Florida State. And while they haven't always looked dominant since then, a 10-point victory at San Diego State last week helped them improve to 6-1. The Cougars have remained top-25 mainstay in our power rankings throughout the year, thanks to a season-opening victory over Oklahoma. One of the top offenses in the country averaging 469 yards per game and 6.67 yards per play, the Cougars are also led by a senior quarterback in Max Hall. While he's been more prone to turnovers than previous years, Hall is still throwing for more than 300 yards per game, many of them going to All-American candidate Dennis Pitta at tight end. The Cougars average more yards per completion (9.56) than any other team in the country. But, giving up nearly 5.4 yards per play, BYU's defense has been a bit suspect to this point.

We thought this would be the Game of the Week in our original Week 8 Preview before the season began and it has lived up to the hype, though TCU has widened its margin a bit. Averaging a two-point victory in simulations prior to the start of the season, the Horned Frogs now remain unbeaten - and continue to leave Boise State fans worried - by winning over BYU 69.3% of the time and by an average margin of 34-28.

Other Notable Games in Week 8
The BYU-TCU matchup is the only one this week between two teams ranked in the top 20 of power rankings.

In the Big East, however, the fight for the top contender to Cincinnati continues. The Bearcats, coming off a victory over then-unbeaten South Florida, beat Louisville 89.1% of the time, but the race behind them becomes more intriguing as the Bulls travel to Pitt. South Florida drops its second straight game 52.6% of the time as the Panthers win 32-28.

The Iowa Hawkeyes are also looking to remain unbeaten at Michigan State and they do just that 82.5% of the time by a score of 24-14. Michigan will try to land another blow to Penn State's Big Ten title hopes, but the Nittany Lions win nearly 80% and by a score of 30-20 in the Big House.

Oh, and if you are still actually worried about Boise State suffering an unexpected setback, the Broncos are winners 95% of the time at Hawaii.

To see other picks like our Upset of the Week and Lock of the Week, as well as our season-to-date performance, click here.

College Football Week 8

Matchup

Win%

Avg Score

Clemson Tigers

26.7

15

@ Miami (FL) Hurricanes

73.3

25

Maryland Terrapins

43.8

15

@ Duke Blue Devils

56.2

18

Florida State Seminoles

62.9

20

@ North Carolina Tar Heels

37.1

16

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

88.8

27

@ Virginia Cavaliers

11.2

14

Louisville Cardinals

10.9

14

@ Cincinnati Bearcats

89.1

34

Connecticut Huskies

34.3

20

@ West Virginia Mountaineers

65.7

27

Akron Zips

34.7

12

@ Syracuse Orange

65.3

18

South Florida Bulls

47.4

28

@ Pittsburgh Panthers

52.6

32

Minnesota Golden Gophers

13.4

13

@ Ohio State Buckeyes

86.6

28

Illinois Fighting Illini

27.1

16

@ Purdue Boilermakers

72.9

28

Indiana Hoosiers

41.3

15

@ Northwestern Wildcats

58.7

20

Penn State Nittany Lions

79.3

30

@ Michigan Wolverines

20.7

20

Iowa Hawkeyes

82.5

24

@ Michigan State Spartans

17.5

14

Kent State Golden Flashes

11.6

8

@ Ohio Bobcats

88.4

27

Buffalo Bulls

31.5

18

@ Western Michigan Broncos

68.5

25

Temple Owls

61.8

24

@ Toledo Rockets

38.2

21

Ball State Cardinals

67.7

18

@ Eastern Michigan Eagles

32.3

14

Central Michigan Chippewas

81.1

28

@ Bowling Green Falcons

18.9

16

Northern Illinois Huskies

94.8

28

@ Miami (OH) RedHawks

5.2

10

Washington State Cougars

5.0

7

@ California Golden Bears

95.0

39

UCLA Bruins

17.5

13

@ Arizona Wildcats

82.5

26

Oregon State Beavers

21.5

21

@ USC Trojans

78.5

33

Arizona State Sun Devils

37.1

19

@ Stanford Cardinal

62.9

26

Oregon Ducks

86.6

30

@ Washington Huskies

13.4

15

Vanderbilt Commodores

13.4

10

@ South Carolina Gamecocks

86.6

25

Tennessee Volunteers

17.9

12

@ Alabama Crimson Tide

82.1

27

Auburn Tigers

21.5

16

@ LSU Tigers

78.5

28

Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks

43.8

17

@ Kentucky Wildcats

56.2

22

Arkansas Razorbacks

52.6

27

@ Mississippi Rebels

47.4

26

Florida Gators

95.0

42

@ Mississippi State Bulldogs

5.0

13

Idaho Vandals

41.0

27

@ Nevada Wolf Pack

59.0

31

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs

73.7

27

@ Utah State Aggies

26.3

19

Boise State Broncos

95.0

42

@ Hawaii Warriors

5.0

17

Fresno State Bulldogs

95.0

40

@ New Mexico State Aggies

5.0

12

Boston College Eagles

32.7

21

@ Notre Dame Fighting Irish

67.3

29

Wake Forest Demon Deacons

37.8

17

@ Navy Midshipmen

62.2

23

Rutgers Scarlet Knights

87.6

25

@ Army Black Knights

12.4

12

Texas A&M Aggies

14.4

18

@ Texas Tech Red Raiders

85.6

33

Iowa State Cyclones

19.9

17

@ Nebraska Cornhuskers

80.1

30

Colorado Buffaloes

29.4

20

@ Kansas State Wildcats

70.6

28

Oklahoma Sooners

82.1

29

@ Kansas Jayhawks

17.9

18

Oklahoma State Cowboys

88.4

36

@ Baylor Bears

11.6

21

Texas Longhorns

91.5

30

@ Missouri Tigers

8.5

15

Southern Methodist Mustangs

5.0

13

@ Houston Cougars

95.0

39

Tulane Green Wave

17.5

15

@ Southern Miss Golden Eagles

82.5

30

UAB Blazers

37.8

18

@ Marshall Thundering Herd

62.2

24

Tulsa Golden Hurricane

82.1

30

@ UTEP Miners

17.9

20

UCF Knights

90.0

28

@ Rice Owls

10.0

13

Air Force Falcons

23.1

16

@ Utah Utes

76.9

28

San Diego State Aztecs

43.8

16

@ Colorado State Rams

56.2

20

UNLV Rebels

54.7

21

@ New Mexico Lobos

45.3

19

TCU Horned Frogs

69.3

34

@ Brigham Young Cougars

30.7

28

Florida International Golden Panthers

10.0

11

@ Arkansas State Red Wolves

90.0

28

North Texas Mean Green

15.5

14

@ Troy Trojans

84.5

29

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers

23.9

10

@ Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders

76.1

21

Florida Atlantic Owls

33.9

19

@ Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns

66.1

27

Ever wanted to be in be in charge of your own college football program? With Gridiron Dynasty from WhatIfSports.com, you have a chance to do just that. From recruiting and running practice to gameplanning and scheduling - it is all under your control. Start at DIII and try to work your way up to winning the DI championship at your favorite school.

Eric Schmoldt is a writer and Paul Bessire is the Product Manager of Content and Quantitative Analysis for WhatIfSports.com, a division of FOX Sports Interactive specializing in NCAA Matchup analysis and college football sim games. With any comments, questions or topic suggestions, Paul and Eric can be reached at BtB@whatifsports.com. Thanks!